Robert Kaufmann

Robert Kaufmann is a Professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Boston University and Core Faculty at the Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS). He holds a BS in Biology from Cornell University, an MA in Economics from the University of New Hampshire, and a PhD in Energy Management & Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on climate change, energy markets, land-use strategies, and environmental policy, with a particular emphasis on oil market dynamics, socioeconomic factors influencing land use, and climate justice.

Key projects include analyzing electric vehicle adoption disparities, evaluating ecological management of invasive species via satellite data, and modeling glacial dynamics. Kaufmann co-founded First Fuel Software, which uses engineering and mathematical methods for cost-effective commercial building energy audits. His work bridges environmental science with policy, addressing global sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.

• Education:
• BS Biology, Cornell University
• MA Economics, University of New Hampshire
• PhD Energy Management & Policy, University of Pennsylvania
• Affiliations:
• Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS)
• First Fuel Software (founding partner)

Recent publications explore energy justice in Texas power outages, hedge fund activism in oil companies, and feedback mechanisms in photovoltaic adoption. Despite no listed awards, his contributions to climate science and energy economics are widely recognized. His advising and grants focus on interdisciplinary sustainability research.